The next frontier for measurement and evaluation: Social impact measurement for impact investing and market solutions

This paper provides a succinct summary of how evaluators need to evolve and develop tools to meet the need of  impact investors for timely, cost-effective, data and evidence about social and environmental returns.

This resource and the following information was contributed by Kaye Stevens.

Authors and their affiliation

 Shawna A. Hoffman and Veronica M. Olazabal, Rockefeller Foundation, New York, United States

Key features

The paper argues that the critical role of impact investing and market solutions in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals requires evaluators to adapt to impact investors’ needs for cost-effective and timely evaluations. Differences between conventional program and policy evaluation methods and processes and the evaluation and monitoring of impact investments are outlined. They include the importance of ex-ante rather than ex-post evaluations, monitoring and evaluation to manage risks and inform dynamic decision-making and the role of data and evidence in competitive marketplaces.

How have you used or intend on using this resource?

Provides a concise overview of how evaluation needs to adapt to the needs of impact investors. 

Why would you recommend it to other people?

This paper contributes to the global conversation about the pressure and opportunities for evaluators to evolve their practice to work with and add value to impact investing.